Linen Fiber

Linen is one of the oldest and a very popularly used fiber obtained from the stalk of the flax plant. The hair like fibers, are held together by a gummy substance known as pectin. Linen is composed of 70 percent cellulose, and 30 percent pectin, woody tissue, ash and moisture.

Linen is popularly used as a generic term to describe bed, bath, table and kitchen textiles and furnishings as it was traditionally used for towels, sheets, etc.

It is one of the most prestigious and expensive fiber, grown in small quantities, in various pats of the world.

Physical Characteristics
The fiber is smooth, straight and lustrous. It is more brittle and less flexible than cotton. The fiber is also more difficult to spin into yarn. It has a long staple fiber length when compared to cotton. Check out for a detailed information on the properties of linen in Linen Properties

Major Producers
Western Europe is the major producer of finest quality linen, China is also one of the leading producer of high quality linen. Ireland, Italy and Belgium are other significant producers. Belgium produces the best quality linen, and Ireland is known for its craftsmanship.

Applications
Linen is one of the widely used fiber used in :

• Apparels
• Home furnishings
• Commercial furnishing
• Upholstery
• Industrial application